Flying With Breast Milk During the Holidays: What Parents Need to Know Before Traveling
What Parents Need to Know Before Traveling Within the United States Holiday travel with a baby—or while pumping—can feel overwhelming. Add airport security, carry-ons, and questions about breast milk rules, and it’s easy to feel anxious before you even leave home. The good news? Breast milk is protected under TSA guidelines, and parents have more rights and flexibility than many realize. Whether you’re flying with your baby, pumping while away, or traveling solo and bringing milk home, here’s everything you need to know to fly confidently this holiday season. Breast Milk Is Allowed Through TSA Security When traveling within the United States, breast milk is permitted through TSA security checkpoints, even in quantities greater than the standard 3.4 oz liquid limit. ✔️ There is no limit to how much breast milk you can bring✔️ You do not need to be traveling with your child to carry breast milk✔️ Fresh, frozen, and partially frozen milk are all allowed This applies to breast milk, formula, and toddler milk. Breast Pumps Are Considered Medical Equipment Breast pumps and pumping supplies are classified as medical devices. ✔️ They do not count toward your carry-on limit✔️ You are allowed a separate pump bag✔️ Pump parts, tubing, and accessories can travel with you This protection helps ensure parents can maintain their feeding and pumping routines while traveling. How Breast Milk Is Screened at Security Most liquids go through X-ray screening, but breast milk may be screened separately if you request it. You can ask TSA officers to:• Inspect milk visually• Test milk containers without opening them• Use alternative screening methods 💡 Tip: Let the TSA officer know right away that you are traveling with breast milk to help the process move smoothly. Keeping Breast Milk Cold While Flying To keep milk safely stored during travel, TSA allows the following: ✔️ Ice packs✔️ Freezer packs✔️ Gel packs If these items are not fully frozen, they may require additional screening—but they are still permitted. What About Dry Ice? Dry ice is allowed, but airline approval is required. Each airline has its own policies, so check ahead before packing. You Do NOT Need Your Baby With You This is one of the most common misconceptions.You do not need to be traveling with your baby to carry breast milk through security. This means pumping parents traveling for work, holidays, or family visits can bring milk home safely. Helpful Tips for Holiday Travel With Breast Milk ✨ Arrive early to allow extra time at security✨ Pack milk separately for easy inspection✨ Label containers clearly✨ Bring extra storage bags and wipes✨ Know your airline’s pumping and storage policies Preparation can make a huge difference in reducing stress. Final Thoughts Traveling with breast milk—especially during the busy holiday season—doesn’t have to be stressful. Knowing your rights and planning ahead helps you move through the airport with confidence and peace of mind. At Lactation Station & More, we’re proud to be your trusted partners in perinatal care and breastfeeding support in Summerville, SC. Whether you’re preparing for travel, navigating pumping, or troubleshooting feeding challenges, we’re here to support you every step of the way. ✈️🎄 Have a safe and uneventful flight, and happy holidays from our family to yours! 💜 FlyingWithBreastMilk #BreastfeedingTravel #PumpingOnTheGo #TravelingParents #BreastfeedingSupport #LactationSupport #NewParentTravel #HolidayTravelWithBaby #BreastfeedingEducation #PumpingMomLife #BreastmilkStorage #TSAParents #TravelTipsForParents #PerinatalCare #SummervilleMoms #LowcountryFamilies #LactationStationAndMore #ParentEducation #ConfidentParenting #HolisticParenting
Increase Your Odds of Conception
We will cover the best tips to increase your odds of conception in this blog. In my last blog about fertility, I talked about the basics in creating another life by following a love story of a maiden (egg) and her knight (sperm). What is seemingly a simple story that should have a happy ending, has proved to be a more complex task to achieve. At some point in puberty, we find out about the Birds and the Bees through family, friends, health class, reading, pictures, and exploration of our sexuality. Only to realize later in life that what we once believed right about sex and baby-making may have been a rumor or misconstrued by our undeveloped brain. Consequently, we will focus on relearning (and exploring) the birds and the bees once more (with our adult brain) to create the optimal chances of conception. Now that we understand the HOW, let’s explore the ways to increase your odds of a successful, healthy conception Humor me and increase your odds of conception Pretend you are about to grow your food in your yard by your own hands. Let’s consider the necessary steps needed before starting this project: Decide on the types of crops that will grow in your area Understand how a growing season plays out Become familiar with different kinds of food crops Develop a farm plan on the land you intend to use Plan your storage method Determine benefits vs. cost Begin the project in stages Break ground FERTILIZE soil, lay off rows Place seeds in the furrow at the precise depth Cultivate crops when needed Watch for insects & animals that may damage plants Harvest and preserve If you’ve ever actually tended your garden, you are well-aware of the time, effort, money, blood, sweat, and tears associated. The steps I’ve listed were fundamental. Nonetheless, a lot of thought and time goes into this process. If we don’t take these steps seriously, one by one, we may not get the best outcome. Maybe only half the crops thrive, or perhaps nothing will grow at all. If this were another time, we could starve. Let’s put that into perspective when pondering “growing a human.” If possible, consider a version of the steps above before “planting the human seed.” Starting with a healthy egg and sperm. Therefore, we need healthy parents-to-be. Incidentally, it’s never too late to boost the health of the embryo-fetus-baby, so don’t slack off after pregnancy is achieved. Both Partners can help increase your odds of conception I know it is difficult to make changes to your lifestyle, but this is where you want to invest in your future mini-me. By creating the healthiest versions of yourselves, you’ll ensure the best possible outcome and create a baby ready to fight off germs. Spend some time doing inventory on your eating habits, exercise, vitamins, mental health, relationship health, finances, and work-life balance for a few weeks before any radical changes. Once you can pinpoint areas that need adjusting, start slow. Too much at once can make you throw in the towel before giving it an honest attempt. Remember, it takes four months to cycle a new healthier egg and sperm. Start with these tips: Get a check-up with your regular doctor and obstetrician-gynecologist and talk about your desire to get pregnant. Ask for STD (sexually transmitted disease) testing, even if you think you’re safe. Consider a detox Aim for the fertility diet: Avoid soy, eat organic when possible, eat foods in their most natural state, decrease meat consumption, favor veggie sources of protein, eat good fats (olive, flax, nut, fish & coconut oil) avoid dangerous fats (hydrogenated, vegetable fat, hardened vegetable fat, trans fat), use clarified butter/ghee or coconut oil when cooking and filtered water. Foods to improve sperm; banana, tomato, garlic, apples, cashew nuts, pomegranates, avocados, asparagus, pumpkin seeds, and oysters. Start taking quality vitamins that include; zinc, selenium, magnesium, calcium, b6, b12, folic acid, vitamin c, omega three fats, vitamin d3 Exercise Reduce risk factors; smoking, drinking, street drugs, medications, caffeine, environmental hazards, stress, dangerous behaviors, etc. Did you know? Sperm disorders contribute to 40% of infertility. One cup of coffee per day decreases the chance of fertility by 55%. Women who drank coffee before and during pregnancy had 2x the miscarriage rate. One glass of alcohol can reduce fertility by 50%. Light smoking in men can reduce sperm quality and motility. Heavy smoking in men can change the shape of sperm (which makes sperm swim incorrectly- missing their mark). Men who quit smoking for 5+ months before conceiving can increase sperm count by 800%. 60% of infertility could be corrected with STD medication. If only one partner is treated for an STD, he or she will reinfect the other. Yeast is an STD. Trans fats can increase infertility by 70%. Trans fats are used to extend shelf life, eat fresh. Animal-derived estrogens can decrease fertility. Dairy accounts for 60-70% of estrogens consumed. By devoting time and effort into designing your best selves, you’ll be able to increase the odds of conception, the vitality of a pregnancy, the immune system of your baby, and as parents you’ll be in a better position to fight germs and keep up with the little one. Win-win!! Read the next fertility blog to dive deeper into causes and overcoming infertility. Happy Parenting-to-be!
How to Build a Parenting Blog
How to build a parenting blog starts with a bud of hope. Hope that my parenting wins and fails will entertain you. Hope that my expertise in pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding, and newborns will be enough to guide you on your unique journey. Most of all, hope that you will NOT feel judged but instead protected to find your inner voice. Emotions Used to Build a Blog It amazes me how much time, reflection, and planning I’ve put into this blogging venture. Many questions were swirling in my head about the goals and direction I’d like this platform to take for months before putting pen to paper (yes, I started with a pen). Not to mention the always nagging speculation on my self-confidence: could I, should I, what makes mine different from other bloggers? From learning the techno garb, finding the right name & logo to investing in the company, it’s been a whirlwind of inner growth. However, when I thought about it, this was not much different from the planning involved to start a family. That is, for those of you who PLAN baby-making. There’s the inception or theory, conception, or act of, pregnancy or growing, labor or grunt work and birth or game day (with blood, sweat, and tears). Building a Blog or Baby? Ironically, I did not put that much thought into baby-making. Maybe I should have, but it never crossed my mind. There wasn’t any doubt that having a child was the right thing for ME. So I just did what came naturally and reveled in the results. Never once was there any regret or concern. I assumed that this process was perfected many times before for thousands of years. No need to reinvent the wheel. Starting a business has been around for eons as well but not on the internet front. Blogging, especially, has only had maybe a full 25 years to develop into the good, bad, and the ugly it is today. So, while I’m not reinventing anything, I do feel the same jitters you feel when you’re pregnant for the first time. As with pregnancy, building a baby or a business for 40 weeks feels like an eternity. The prospect of seeing your hard work come to fruition can be all-consuming. The third trimester brings on a sense of final preparation with a tad of worry. How am I going to get this baby out of me? OR How am I going to “go live” with my blog? It’s one thing to write it all down, but to share your thoughts (or baby) is another. While I may not be feeling the same physical discomforts as a pregnant woman, I indeed have manifested a few correlations. Worth the Work to Blog When all is said and done, the outcome is gratifying; baby or business. There is a time to feel immersed in the baby cocoon that I won’t necessarily experience with my blog, but will enjoy the feeling of accomplishment. Albeit, a brand new mother, would prefer to keep her baby to herself, but I will delight in sharing my knowledge with you. Comparisons *How to build a parenting blog comes with many emotions, but in no way am I minimizing the creation of a human being or the tough grind one must go through to bring forth life. I did have seven babies come from my body and could never downplay the process. I’m merely showing how various life stages may take a similar path.
Fascinating Facts About Your Placenta
These fascinating facts about your placenta will have you feeling fully informed about the world your fetus lives in. From the time you saw the pregnancy test appear positive, you’ve likely done a lot of reading about pregnancy, labor, birth and babies. Maybe you’ve even watched a bunch of videos or taken a class to become more comfortable with the process of bringing a baby into the world or perhaps talked to a variety of seasoned moms. Whatever route you are using to gain the most enlightenment into motherhood, it probably does not include enough information about the amazing environment your protégé is growing in. This is impart due to the parents focusing on HOW the baby will leave its warm cozy habitat and end up on your breast. After all, the growing of your offspring is mind boggling enough, but thoughts of an 8-pound human exiting your body in 40 weeks can be downright mystifying. Here’s a sneak peek at some of the finer points of the well-designed symbiotic relationship between mother and fetus. From placenta to umbilical cord and everything in between: FASCINATING FACTS ABOUT YOUR PLACENTA: It is derived from both mother and father cells. It is the only disposable organ. It will act as a multifunctional organ. The blood of mom and baby pass through placenta but don’t commingle. It operates as lungs for the baby. Long after birth, the placenta can provide immunities to the baby from the mother. With multiple identical fetuses, there may or may not be multiple placentas. If multiples share a placenta, they will have separate umbilical cords. Most mammals consume their placenta after birth. All placentas are different shapes and sizes across all mammals, including from one baby to the next in same family. “Lotus birth” is when a mother keeps her newborn baby attached to the placenta until the umbilical cord falls off on its own. In many cultures around the world, the placenta can have a spiritual significance. Fetal cells can transfer to the mother during pregnancy via placenta and usually seek out an injured or diseased area to heal. Placenta previa is when the placenta is blocking the mothers’ cervix and can cause difficulties. Obese women are at higher risk for placenta related complications. The placenta is the only organ that can develop without the immune system attacking it. Scientists study the placenta to better understand cancer. THE UMBILICAL CORD: All cord lengths vary with an average of 45-60 cm at 28 weeks when it reaches its full length. Many cultures celebrate the spiritual significance of the cord in a variety of ways. The fetus receives oxygen and vital nutrients through the cord. There are 2 arteries and 1 vein in the cord encased in a viscous substance called WHARTON’S JELLY or WJ. WJ is in every umbilical cord. This material keeps blood vessels from being constricted by loops, knots, twists and bends while baby is exploring his environment. After birth, as the temperature falls, the jelly contracts the veins in the cord which provides its own physiologic clamp! How cool is that? This natural cord clamping will usually happen within 5 minutes of delivery. Wharton’s Jelly is named after an English physician & anatomist, Thomas Wharton. It was around 1656 when he made this amazing discovery. The cells discovered in Wharton’s jelly have several multi-potent stem cell genes and can heal various parts of a body. AND AMNIOTIC SAC: It is fully formed within 3 weeks of conception. Is grown from the placenta. Comprises of 2 very strong membranes filled with fluid inside the mother’s womb. The fluid inside the sac comes from the maternal plasma and passes through fetal membranes. Can be called the “bag of waters” or “membranes.” Is filled with clear, pale, strawberry covered fluid where the embryo/fetus floats and swims until birth. This sterile fluid cushions the baby from injury and maintains a constant temperature. This fluid serves to facilitate the exchange of vital nutrients and water between mom and baby. The fetus will swallow the amniotic fluid and excrete tiny amounts of urine back into the fluid. The amount of fluid will increase until 38 weeks and then decrease slightly until the baby’s birth, too little or too much fluid can be an indicator of problems for mom and baby. Watch this cool video to see the amazement! Understanding all the details of the fascinating world that the baby is developing in can be awe inspiring. Nature surely knew how to secure that we would walk the earth for a long time by not leaving anything to chance. Every element from the sperm entering the egg down to the first breath your baby takes has a purpose. Your body has been created to bring life into this universe while sustaining life after delivery. Embrace it-by getting to know all the subtleties you can ensure less complexity and misgivings. Especially the first time around. Happy Parenting!
First Trimester Woes
If you’ve been feeling the first trimester woes, take it easy, give yourself permission to take a nap or go to bed early. Understanding the changes your body is going through will help you conquer this first phase. An amazing amount of effort is going on behind the scenes. Not only does your body have to work double time to keep you both alive, but your brain must shift gears into the less logical and more nurturing side. Imagine the magnitude of hormone changes to allow for this. Here’s a peak at the most common first trimester woes: Tired all the time/low energy-those prenatal vitamins may be hard to swallow right now, but can aid in giving you the correct vitamins to give a little more energy. Unfortunately there isn’t a cure for this short phase, but most can muddle through exhaustion and allow your body to rest as often as it tells you. Your baby needs you to shut down often in the beginning for the healthiest chance at developing. Even if you can’t sleep at work, take your breaks out to your car or behind a door and close your eyes (set an alarm first). Even 20 minutes can change the way you feel for the rest of the day and increase chances for a healthier pregnancy. Keep in mind that if you exercise a little every day, you’ll get a deeper, quality sleep. Sore, tender breasts and nipples-from the minute of conception your body is going through a major transformation. The hormones needed for this will cause your nipples to become tender. It’s usually the first obvious sign that you are pregnant. Support your breast with a good quality bra that can grow with you. You probably won’t grow more than a half cup to one cup bigger during pregnancy. Try to avoid chafing fabrics and use a quality natural oil on your body after showers. Hydration helps avoid extra dryness, but you’ll want to become more aware of what’s in your skin cream before using it. One or two natural ingredients is best. This phase is worst in first weeks. You will feel better as the hormones calm down. Nausea-some studies suggest that having morning sickness is a sign that miscarriage is highly unlikely. In most research, the higher the HCG levels (pregnancy hormones) the more likely you will feel nauseous. There is also a misnomer about feeling sick in the morning as this can happen at anytime in the day or night. For 95% of the pregnant population this feeling will wind down by the second trimester as your body acclimates to pregnancy. Some tips to help you through the rough patches; drink water with lemon and ginger upon waking -ideally it is already at your bedside, have crackers or toast before you get out of bed, keep a citrus smell around you during intense times of nausea, keep a quality diet of protein-fruit-veggies, avoid the “standard american diet”, stay hydrated, take prenatal vitamins at night, try cold meals, eat small meals often, be sure to rest/sleep when your body warrants it, talk to other mothers and seek alternative therapies (chiropractor-acupuncture-aromatherapy-kinesiology-reiki etc). For those of you who can’t get a handle on feeling sick all the time, talk to your doctor about medications. Acne-you will feel like that teenager going through puberty again, but this is temporary. As those hormones regulate through pregnancy you should see improvement. In the meantime, try a clean diet, drink plenty of water, avoid chemicals (unnatural makeup) on your skin, cleanse with a mild soap, use tea tree oil or apple cider vinegar as a toner, moisturize with a small amount of coconut oil and take a probiotic. Talk to your doctor if this becomes an ongoing problem. Frequent urination– this is something you will have to accept as part of the pregnancy. In the beginning of pregnancy, it is hormones causing this issue, in time it will be the pressure of the baby. Your uterus is a pear size when not pregnant but quickly grows to the size of a watermelon. That’s a lot of pressure on the bladder. Be sure to get to know where all the bathrooms (in any place) are before you must go. Don’t try to avoid drinking water when you are thirsty, even at night. Dehydration can bring on bigger problems. Be sure to limit caffeine, alcohol, smoking and artificial sweeteners as these will make you need to go more often. Any restrictive clothing around your lower abdomen should be avoided. Those stretchy panties and loose skirts/pants can be your best friend. Emotional turmoil-with those crazy hormones comes the emotional roller coaster of pregnancy. Like the changes you feel around the time of your period. Happy, sad, angry, anxious, regret, ambivalence is just a few of the many shades of feelings you’ll experience. You won’t always feel this “off”, but it may seem extreme at times. Usually the first and last trimesters are the most awkward. Working through any family-relationship issues, career concerns and other stressful aspects of life at this time should quell some of the intensity. If you like to write, this is a wonderful passage of life to express yourself in a journal (or art). Maybe someday you’ll blog about it too! Take great care to find an exceptional prenatal yoga or exercise class, those connections with other moms will help ease the transition. As with anything, sharing with people in the same boat can give clarity, BUT sharing online is not the same! Get out and meet other mothers to be. If you find yourself in a constant state of fight or flight, please talk to your caregiver ASAP. This list is the most popular of first trimester woes but doesn’t mean you won’t experience something else equally annoying to you. Pregnancy can be unique to the individual health issues your body is already working on before conception. Keep your eye on the prize and throw in some humor
The Captivating Home of Your Fetus
The captivating home of your fetus is riveting when you genuinely take the time to learn each discovery. The microscopic to the most significant details will blow your mind. The more you understand about this symbiotic environment, the easier it is for you to nourish yourself a little bit more through the pregnancy. From the time you saw the pregnancy test appear favorable, you’ve likely done a lot of reading about pregnancy, labor, birth, and babies. Maybe you’ve even watched a bunch of videos or taken a class to become more comfortable with the process or perhaps talked to a variety of seasoned moms. Whatever route you are using to learn about motherhood, it probably does not include enough information about the complex environment your protégé is growing in. Parents are typically focusing on HOW the baby will leave its warm cozy habitat and end up on your breast. After all, the growth of your offspring is mind-boggling enough. Still, thoughts of an 8-pound human exiting your body in 40 weeks can be downright mystifying. Here’s a sneak peek at some of the finer points of the well-designed symbiotic relationship between mother and fetus. From placenta to umbilical cord and everything in between: FASCINATING FACTS ABOUT THE PLACENTA: It is derived from both mother and father cells. It is the only disposable organ. This will act as a multifunctional organ. The blood of mom and baby pass through the placenta but don’t commingle. It operates as lungs for the baby. Long after birth, the placenta can provide immunities to the baby from the mother. With multiple identical fetuses, there may or may not be many placentas. If multiples share a placenta, they will have separate umbilical cords. Most mammals consume their placenta after birth. All placentas are different shapes and sizes across all mammals, including from one baby to the next in the same family. “Lotus birth” is when a mother keeps her newborn baby attached to the placenta until the umbilical cord falls off on its own. In many cultures around the world, the placenta can have a spiritual significance. Fetal cells can transfer to the mother during pregnancy via the placenta and usually seek out an injured or diseased area to heal. Placenta previa is when the placenta is blocking the mothers’ cervix and can cause difficulties. Obese women are at higher risk for placenta related complications. The placenta is the only organ that can develop without the immune system attacking it. Scientists study the placenta to understand cancer better. THE UMBILICAL CORD: All cord lengths vary with an average of 45-60 cm at 28 weeks when it reaches its full range. Many cultures celebrate the spiritual significance of the cord in a variety of ways. The fetus receives oxygen and vital nutrients through the cord. There are two arteries and one vein in the cord encased in a viscous substance called WHARTON’S JELLY or WJ. WJ is in every umbilical cord. This material keeps blood vessels from being constricted by loops, knots, twists, and bends. At the same time, the baby is exploring his environment. After birth, as the temperature falls, the Jelly contracts the veins in the cord, which provides its physiologic clamp! How cool is that? This natural cord clamping will usually happen within 5 minutes of delivery. Wharton’s Jelly is named after an English physician & anatomist, Thomas Wharton. It was around 1656 when he made this fantastic discovery. The cells discovered in Wharton’s Jelly have several multipotent stem cell genes and can heal various parts of a body. AMNIOTIC SAC: It is fully formed within three weeks of conception. Grown from the placenta. It is comprised of 2 robust membranes filled with fluid inside the mother’s womb. The fluid inside the sac comes from the maternal plasma and passes through fetal membranes. It can be called the “bag of waters” or “membranes.” Is filled with bright, pale, strawberry covered fluid where the embryo/fetus floats and swims until birth. This sterile fluid cushions the baby from injury and maintains a constant temperature. This fluid serves to facilitate the exchange of vital nutrients and water between mom and baby. The fetus will swallow the amniotic fluid and excrete tiny amounts of urine back into the liquid. The amount of fluid will increase until 38 weeks and then decrease slightly until the baby’s birth. Too little or too much fluid can be an indicator of problems for mom and baby. Understanding all the details of the fascinating world that the baby is developing in can be awe-inspiring. Nature surely knew how to secure that we would walk the earth for a long time by not leaving anything to chance. Every element from the sperm entering the egg down to the first breath your baby takes has a purpose. Your body is designed to bring life into the universe while sustaining life after delivery. Embrace it-by getting to know all the subtleties; you can ensure less complexity and misgivings. Especially the first time around. “To be pregnant is to be vitally alive, thoroughly woman and distressingly inhabited. Soul and spirit are stretched- along with body-making pregnancy, a time of transition, growth, and profound beginnings.” ~Anne Christian Buchanan Happy Parenting!
Meeting Your “New Mom” Needs
Integrating your baby in your life while meeting your “new mom” needs can be tricky. Everyone wants to be part of those first few weeks, but quickly lose interest after the first month. Check on your new mom friends after week four, and you’ll find some of them chomping at the bit to “feel normal again.” Incorporating that balance will take time. Finding something that can help improve your new daily regimen AND keep your baby with you can be challenging. As a new mom, you’re always looking for a small window of opportunity to duck out and exercise, meet friends for lunch, groom at the hairdresser, read a book, run to the store or take a bath without 487 interruptions. It becomes especially important when your health could be suffering; physically or emotionally. We all need a little “me time” to keep the baby blues from enveloping us. Not everyone has enough supportive family or friends close by to watch the baby while you do what is needed to meet your “new mom” needs. There are a few creative ways to include the baby in your lunch, hairdresser, store run, book (you could read your adult book out loud), or bath, but exercise can be tricky. You could incorporate your routine around a sleeping baby, but that could backfire when you are finally feeling the benefits. It helps if you have an older child who is capable of watching the baby for an hour in another room. Alas, even that can be iffy when the sibling is having a rough day while trying to meet your “new mom” needs. Mommy and Me to Meet Your Needs I highly recommend going to playgroups, mommy, and me, breastfeeding support groups, postpartum depression groups, or anything tangible in your area! You can bring the baby and talk to other moms who are in a similar situation. It’s evident that many of you are in online mom groups, but let’s be honest, these people could be robots for all you know. Getting out, having human interaction, and having your little one be around other children is a win-win for everyone. Some of these groups could integrate exercise for adults as well. Imagine a place you could bring your baby and dance, swim, or exercise together? This setting has you both enjoying oxytocin (the feel-good hormone) while benefiting from feeling better about your body. Postnatal yoga is the perfect fit. You can’t go wrong with a class that incorporates a brand new mother and her newborn baby. Besides where else can you sit and breastfeed at any given moment, without concern. There is no pressure or rush to catch up with the other moms and everyone is equally exhausted in this group. If you’ve never done yoga before, relax, this is the least judgmental place to learn. Postpartum Yoga for Balance Curious but uncertain if yoga is for YOU? Maybe you’ve heard that it has a hippie vibe, it’s too spiritual, too witch crafty or too alternative? On the other hand, perhaps you’re a hardcore bodybuilder/gym rat/fitness buff/runner, and practicing yoga doesn’t look challenging enough. Whatever speculation you’ve had about this ancient practice put aside and open your mind. You are looking for a connection with your new body and this is a perfect fit to meet your “new mom” needs. As it stands now, yoga is trending and may come up in conversation. You may hear phrases that sound too good to be true, questioning, and doubting all the buildup to a physical fitness practice that appears wimpy in style. Also, wondering if this is the activity that will be good enough for you and your baby comfortably. Disciplines This tradition is a group of physical, mental, and spiritual disciplines, breaking the barriers of all other types of conditioning. No additional training tests your mind, heart, and spirit the way a traditional yoga class can. Each style has different advantages for improving wellness. Be sure to check them all out: Hatha, Iyengar, Kundalini, Ashtanga, Vinyasa, Bikram, Yin, and Restorative, to name a few. Most of these can be adapted to fit a mom and baby in the group, but seeking an actual postpartum yoga class is most beneficial. Start with the basics and work your way up, or enjoy how good you feel after a class that you didn’t need to leave your baby to profit. Benefits of postpartum (or anytime) yoga that you may find surprising: Strengthens pelvic floor Protection from injury Reduces back discomfort from holding a baby all-day Balance Flexibility Toning Energy Endurance Heart health Improved athleticism Vitality Decrease stress, anxiety & postpartum depression Reduces inflammation Increases speed of cell repair form birth Improves quality of life Lessens chronic pain Mom networking Encourages mindful eating Improves sex life (for next baby) Strengthens your immune system Weight loss Helps repair abdominal muscles Readjusts the hormones Asthma helper Memory Booster Detoxifying Improves respiration Reduces migraine intensity and frequency Promotes deeper sleep Better posture Connection with baby Realigns your body Reminds you to breath Encourages healthy blood flow Aids in healing physically and emotionally from your birth experience Makes you smarter Encourages body love Perhaps the most important and overlooked perk is the sense of community, building your mom tribe. When you leave your ego at the door and immerse yourself in deepening your yoga practice and mommy skills, with and without baby, it’s easy to find your tribe. Yogis are typically noble people who share the same goals: self-improvement, inside and out. So, the next time you’re considering between a postpartum yoga class or weight lifting, perchance, you’ll put all the rumors aside and remember that yogis can kick butt too: spiritually, mentally, and physically- even in the pre and postpartum realm. Happy Parenting!
Rock Your Labor in These Positions
To rock your labor in these positions, you will need an open mind, sense of humor and a little flexibility. Don’t wait until crunch time to check these out! Let’s face it; LABOR is hard work and requires creativity and instinct to help move the process along. Giving birth is not a sedentary sport. Active involvement can lessen your birth time, reduce pain, and decrease the need for medications. Overall, satisfaction with the birthing process comes from freedom of movement and allowing your body to do what comes naturally. Contrary to images you may have seen in movies or books, the lithotomy (laying on your back with feet in stirrups) position is not the ideal choice for women. However, many factors can influence the mother’s position decision, including setting, mother’s choice & comfort, caregiver preference, or medical intervention. For a healthy mother & baby choosing to have an unmedicated birth, no position is off-limits. Experiment and rehearse what works for you. Checklist to Rock Your Labor Create an environment conducive to allow versatility for greatest achievement. Don’t skimp on preparations for an advantageous experience. Start with these tips and add what you personally enjoy for comfort. partner doula open space; free of debris that may get in your way environment settings; bright, dim, warm, cool, quiet, busy, etc. pillows bed rocking chair birth ball tub, shower towels, sheets birth stool squat bar music essential oils Positions to Rock Your Labor 1. The Squat Birth stool, toilet, bed bar, wall bar, and supported with a partner are all optimal choices. Practice before your due date to get familiar with what feels right for you and build your quads to avoid fatigue. Ideally, your heels would be propped up with something whenever you assume this position if you can’t put them on the floor. Benefits Gives good pelvic alignment Helps baby use gravity and descent Better rotation Can provide 10% more room for baby to move out Less work for pushing Gives best fetal circulation Increases urge to push Takes pressure off the tailbone Decrease need for episiotomy, forceps or vacuum Drawbacks Fatigue Need a reliable partner when using a supported squat Some studies suggest excessive blood loss for some mothers 2. Side-Lying It’s best to stay upright as much as possible, but sometimes relaxation does the trick after working so hard. Try not to lay flat; use the incline position for better gain. To utilize this effectively, place props all around you and between your knees. Take a deep breath and let everything else genuinely support you. Benefits Rest Comfort Helps baby rotate when needed Great fetal circulation Balances moms blood pressure Good for a medicated birth Takes pressure of tailbone Drawbacks Can slow labor if left side-lying too long Pushing in this position can be awkward but sometimes useful for a baby finding himself in a challenging place. 3. Standing, Leaning, Walking, Lunging, Stair Walking Typically, when the mother uses movement, she feels productive throughout labor. Since walking comes naturally to her, and the baby is used to being “rocked,” this exercise can be the most beneficial. Intermittently try stairs, lunging, leaning, and standing still. Benefits Helps labor progress Keeps optimal pelvic alignment Aids baby with gravity Gives baby a better chance to correct a poor position Increases strength of contractions Decreases pain Drawbacks Fatigue Usually cannot do too much with a medicated birth 4. Hands and Knees, Kneeling, Asymmetrical Kneeling You can do this on any safe surface that gives a little cushion for comfort. Use pillows or blankets on the floor if you find yourself there. Be sure to have a support person around to help you up. Benefits Takes pressure off the tailbone Helps baby rotate Better fetal circulation Increased oxygen Decreases need for episiotomy, forceps or vacuum Drawbacks Fatigue Sore knees Sore arms 5. Sitting, Reclining The resting position with gravity still on your side. Using this option periodically throughout labor and pushing can aid you in getting a resurgence of energy. There is nothing wrong with taking occasional breaks. Listen to your body. Increase blood pressure Easy monitoring Less chance of tearing Drawbacks Can slow labor when resting too long You’ve Got This! If labor wakes you in the middle of the night, and you are a low risk, normal, healthy woman- try to stay resting or sleeping as much as possible. Use your circadian rhythm to guide you as to when to take action or not. Alternating between resting positions and active movement throughout the labor and birth process can expedite your experience. Take time during pregnancy to practice getting into these positions with and without props and a partner. If you make an effort now to perfect these -sometimes awkward- positions, they will become instinctive rather than stressful. There is no right or wrong way to give birth, listen to your body. You can rock your labor in these positions and any that feel best for you. Happy Parenting-to-be!
